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Therapeutic culture : cultivating vulnerability in an uncertain age

Explores the powerful influence of therapeutic imperative in Anglo-American societies. In recent decades virtually every sphere of life has become subject to a new emotional culture. Professor Furedi suggests that the recent cultural turn towards the realm of the emotions coincides with a radical redefinition of personhood. Increasingly, vulnerability is presented as the defining feature of people's psychology. Terms like people 'at risk', 'scarred for life' or 'emotional damage' evoke a unique sense of powerlessness. Furedi questions the widely accepted thesis that the therapeutic turn represents an enlightened shift towards emotions. He claims that therapeutic culture is primarily about imposing a new conformity through the management of people's emotions. Through framing the problem of everyday life through the prism of emotions, therapeutic culture incites people to feel powerless and ill. Drawing on developments in popular culture, political and social life, Furedi provides an analysis of the therapeutic turn.Read more...

Details

The culture of emotionalism --
The politics of emotion --
Targetting privacy and informal relations --
How did we get here? --
The diminished self --
The self at risk --
Fragile identity : hooked on self esteem --
Conferring recognition : the quest for identity and the state --
Therapeutic claims making and the demand for a diagnosis.

Abstract:

This study explores the powerful influence of therapeutic imperative in Anglo-American societies where nearly every sphere of life has become subject to a new emotional culture. It suggests that the cultural turn toward the realm of the emotions coincides with a radical redefinition of personhood.Read more...

Reviews

Editorial reviews

Publisher Synopsis

'Therapy is indeed the new opium of the people, as Frank Furedi makes clear in this fascinating, readable - and disturbing - book.' - Virginia Ironside, The Independent 'Can it really be such a bad thing that we are now more aware of the place of mental health in our make-up? Furedi leaves us in no doubt that the therapy culture has invaded our media, our workplace, our intimate relationships and our politics. It is an interesting polemic. We should be grateful for the balance this book inspires' - Community Care 25/4/04Read more...

"The culture of emotionalism -- The politics of emotion -- Targetting privacy and informal relations -- How did we get here? -- The diminished self -- The self at risk -- Fragile identity : hooked on self esteem -- Conferring recognition : the quest for identity and the state -- Therapeutic claims making and the demand for a diagnosis."@en

"Explores the powerful influence of therapeutic imperative in Anglo-American societies. In recent decades virtually every sphere of life has become subject to a new emotional culture. Professor Furedi suggests that the recent cultural turn towards the realm of the emotions coincides with a radical redefinition of personhood. Increasingly, vulnerability is presented as the defining feature of people's psychology. Terms like people 'at risk', 'scarred for life' or 'emotional damage' evoke a unique sense of powerlessness. Furedi questions the widely accepted thesis that the therapeutic turn represents an enlightened shift towards emotions. He claims that therapeutic culture is primarily about imposing a new conformity through the management of people's emotions. Through framing the problem of everyday life through the prism of emotions, therapeutic culture incites people to feel powerless and ill. Drawing on developments in popular culture, political and social life, Furedi provides an analysis of the therapeutic turn."@en